January 2014 - Vintage Vault: 1967 4WD Grand Prix

There is nothing worse than getting stuck, but it happens. We doubt there is a worse time to get your Jeep stuck than during a timed race event like the one these pictures show. Here we see a few stuck Jeeps shot by Eric Rickman for Hot Rod magazine from the 1967 4WD Grand Prix at Riverside run by Brian Chuchua. There are other images from this event, and we'll dig into the details more to show you more of the competition in a future Vintage Vaults. For now, here driver Don White swamped number 25—an early CJ-5 powered by a Dauntless V-6 and prepped by Milne Bros Jeep Center. Here the Jeep is getting rescued by a nice 289 V-8 powered Ford Bronco with an early Warn Bellevue winch. The poor damp Jeep is also running Headers By Horsepower Engineering and Valvoline motor oil. We are digging that old-school, go-fast rollcage. Groovy man!

Swamped Rescue #2

At a similar water crossing on course, we see a swamped flatfender, ol' number 18 mired in the drink. It looks like number 18 is running a D.A. Cam, open headers, wide custom wheels, and cut flotation tires. The race-prepped flattie is getting a tug from a clean looking Willys Pickup. Hey, we love that race flattie that looks civilian, but check out that truck with nicely trimmed front fenders, a windshield mounted spot light, louvered hood, wide custom wheels, and flotation tires. Photo shot by Eric Rickman for Hot Rod.

Here another early CJ-5, number 26, has gotten off-course on a soil levee that was part of the course. The Buick powered CJ is also running a set of Horsepower Engineering Headers peeking out from under the tub and looks like it may be a teammate of old number 25. The same 289 Bronco seems to have come to the rescue of this hapless racer. As a last resort, the shovel was employed to try and clear part of the dirt blocking the CJ in these photos taken by Eric Rickman. Nothing that a little old-fashioned elbow grease won't overcome. Again, this CJ has a nice cage, and check out that remote battery box mounted in the bed of the Jeep. Love it!